Adjustable cover



y 3, 1967 I. SINGER 3,320,996

ADJUSTABLE COVER Filed Oct. 11, 1965 INVENTOR ISADORE SINGER W ATT YS I United States Patent Ofiice 3,32%,995 Patented May 23, 1967 3,3209% ADJUSTABLE COVER Isadore Singer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Singer Safety Products, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Get. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,847 3 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) This invention relates to adjustable covers and more specifically is directed to an adjustable weatherproof cover particularly adapted for use in protecting a central air conditioner compressor cabinet or the like against the elements and other foreign matter.

Central air conditioning has become prevalent in many private residences. In multi-seasonal climates where it is only used for one season of the year, during the other seasons the externally disposed compressor cabinet and associated equipment housed within are not in use. When inoperative, there is a tendency for dust, dirt and the like to collect within the compressor cabinet having a deleterious effect on the static and dynamic parts. Moreover, the sheet metal cabinet housing the working parts serves to amplify the sound of rain, sleet, snow or hail with the expected disturbing effect on the occupants of the premises. In the past, custom made covers have been used to protect compressor cabinets against the elements during periods of non-use, however these covers are extremely expensive when compared to those which are mass produced to a uniform size.

A wide variety of air conditioners are available and considerable variance exists in the size of the compressor cabinets for different sizes and competitive models. Accordingly, any cover which may be provided for protecting the compressor cabinets over the periods of non-use must be adjustable in order to accommodate most models and types if the benefits of mass production are to be obtained.

The present invention relates to a cover which may be used for air conditioner compressor cabinets or the like, and which is readily installed to protect the cabinet and Working parts housed therein. The adjustable cover of the present invention through an ingenious arrangement of elastic bands and strategically placed grommets is adjustable to fit a wide range of cabinet sizes and is easily installed by an unskilled person. As will be seen, the adjustable cover of the present invention is formed of two pieces which co-operate to cover a compressor cabinet and present an attractive appearance while precluding cabinet deterioration and entry of foreign matter into the interior of the cabinet.

It is an object of this invention to provide a two-piece adjustable cover adapted for use in covering air conditioner cabinets and the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved two-piece air conditioner cabinet cover which is adjustable over wide ranges of sizes.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an adjustable air conditioner cover which will fit a wide range of units which is simply installed, will remain firmly in place once installed, and present a neat appearance.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent to the man skilled in the art who studies the draw ings and reads the description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one part of the cover which is used for covering the vertically disposed side portions of the cabinet;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another part of the adjustable cover, which is used for covering the top of the cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first installation step;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a second installation step;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the side cover in the finally installed state;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adjustable twopiece cover when fully installed; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner after installation of the top cover.

In FIG. 1 is shown an elongated strip of material 11 forming the side cover for an air conditioner compressor cabinet. The side cover 11 includes first and second ends 12 and 13 extending transversely of parallel side portions 14 and 15. A fold 16 is taken in the side cover 11 and stitched from one side to the other as shown at 16. Similar folds may be provided as illustrated at 17- and 18 and stitched in a like manner. Each of the folds is provided with a plurality of through grommet holes 20 which may be formed from metal eyelets which are installed in a known manner. Any desired number of folds may be provided adjacent and slightly spaced from the end portions 12 and 13 to permit the side cover strip 11 to fit around the permieter of a wide variety of sizes of cabinets.

A top cover 21 is shown in perspective in FIG. 2 having parallel sides 22 and 23 which intercept transverse parallel ends 24 and 25. Corner grommets are formed adjacent the intersections of the sides and ends as at 26, 27, 28 and 29, respectively. The corner grommets may be installed by known techniques, being formed of plastic, brass or the like.

Grommets are also provided inwardly from the corner grommets 26-29 as at 30 and 31 adjacent the end 25, and as at 32 and 33 adjacent the end 24. Elastic bands 34 and 35 extend between groomets 30 and 31, and 32 and 33, respectively. Each elastic band extends along the underside of the cover and has knotted end portions which prevent the free ends from being pulled through the associated grommet. In assembly of the elastic bands 34 and 35 to the top cover 21, the elastic bands 34 and 35 in their relaxed state have the distance between the knotted ends about 25% shorter than the distance between the grommets 30 and 31 so as to pull the corners towards each other. The top cover 21 may then be packaged for sale by properly folding the cover so as to not have either of the bands 34 and 35 under tension.

As seen in FIG. 3, the side cover 11 is shown in the initial stage of installation on a typical compressor cabinet shown at 40. The cabinet 4d illustrated is of the usual box-like configuration supported on a concrete slab or pad 41. The ends 12 and 13 of the side cover 11 are positioned adjacent the refrigerant and electrical supply conduits 42 and 43 with the bottom edge 14 resting on or slightly overlapping the pad 41. The top edge 15 may project slightly above the top of the cabinet 4t) or in the larger cabinet designs could terminate adjacent the top. In the greater number of cabinet sizes, the top edge 15 of the side cover 11 extends a few inches above the top of the cabinet 40. After the side cover 11 is positioned around the cabinet, the ends 12 and 13 are folded rearwardly as shown in FIG. 4 with the folded portions 44 and 45 respectively adapted for engagement with each other. In the largest size of cabinet contemplated, the length of the side cover 11 will be such that ends 12 and 13 will merely abut the service conduits 42 and 43. In the smaller designs, either or both of the ends 12 and 13 may be folded rearwardly upon themselves any desired degree up to the last fold and row of grommets.

As seen in FIG. 5, the folded ends 44 and 45 are drawn into abutting engagement with the service conduits and each other by easily adjusted elastic bands 46, 47 and 48 which have S-shaped hooks at opposite ends for insertion through the grommets 20. The details of the elastic band t2 and its adjustable attachment to the hook will be given in conjunction with FIG. 7. The top edge 15 of the side cover 11 is folded over at the ends, and subsequently folded over at the sides to the position shown in FIG. so as to lie substantially flat across the top of the cabinet 40.

The top cover, shown in a flattened condition in FIG. 2, is then disposed over the top of the cabinet with the elastic bands 34 and 35 positioned outwardly of the ends of the cabinet 40. The resilience of the bands pulls the side edges 22 and 23 up against the sides 50 and 5.1 of the side cover 11 as well as drawing the respective ends against the ends 52 and 53. The corner grommets 26-29 are then folded to the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and an elastic band 54 having S-shaped hooks 55 and 56 at opposite ends is inserted into grommets 26 and 29 to pull the corner grommets and ends in tight engagement with the sides 50 and 51. A similar elastic band is used for the corners 27 and 28 being installed in the same manner.

From the foregoing it can be appreciated that the twopiece adjustable cover of the present invention due to its unique design is adjustable to a wide variety of box-like configurations including most sizes of air conditioner cabi nets. The cover, when installed, serves to deaden the sound of rain, hail and the like striking the cabinet. It also serves to protect the cabinet and working mechanism from the ingress of foreign matter and presents an attractive appearance as well. Since it may be formed from a heavy duty vinyl coated fabric, it is highly resistant to the elements. The adjustable cover is easily installed and when removed, is foldable to a flat position for convenience of storage.

Upon a consideration of the foregoing, it will become obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the invention embodied herein. Therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable two-piece cover for central air conditioner cabinets and the like, said cover comprising an elongated strip of material of generally rectangular configuration having first and second ends joining parallel top and bottom edges, at least one fold in said strip spaced from and generally parallel to each of said first and second ends, each of said folds having a plurality of grommets therein, said elongated strip of material being adapted for disposition around the vertically disposed surfaces of said air conditioner cabinet with the grommeted folds adjacent said first and second ends being in closely spaced relation to each other, an adjustable elastic cord means hooked to said grommets and urging said folds adjacent said first and second end portions toward each other to tighten said strip of material about said air conditioner cabinet, a top cover disposed transversely of said elongated strip and covering at least the top edge thereof, second elastic means adapted to be disposed at opposite ends of said cabinet and joined to said top cover to pull parallel side portions thereof towards each other, and third elastic means pulling opposite end portions of said top cover towards each other whereby the side and end portions of said top cover will overlie the top edge of said elongated strip forming the side cover.

2. The adjustable two-piece cover of claim 1 wherein the top edge of said elongated strip is folded at right angles to the balance of said elongated strip into overlapping relation with said air conditioner cabinet and said top cover has the side and end portions thereof extending into overlapping engagement with said elongated strip along the side and end portions of said air conditioner cabinet.

3. An adjustable two-piece cover for central air conditioner cabinets and the like, said cover comprising an adjustable side cover member of general rectangular configuration having first and second ends joining parallel top and bottom edges, at least one fold in said strip spaced from each of said first and second ends and extending between said top and bottom edges, said fold having a plurality of grommets therein at spaced intervals, said side cover being adapted for disposition around side and end portions of said air conditioner cabinet with the grommeted folds positioned in closely spaced relation to each other, adjustable elastic cord means having hooks at opposite ends thereof, said hooks being positioned in said grommets to pull said folds towards each other, a top cover disposed transversely of said side cover and having the end portions and side edges thereof overlapping at least the top edge of said side cover, second elastic means adapted to be disposed at opposite ends of said cabinet and pulling parallel side portions of said top cover to ward each other and third elastic means on opposite sides of said cabinet pulling opposite end portions of said top cover toward each other whereby the side and end portions of said top cover will over-lie the top edge of said side cover.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,330,345 2/1920 Randolph 52 1,607,122 11/1926 Gifford 15052 2,917,094 12/1959 Sullivan 15052 3,166,112 1/1965 Fisher 150-52 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE TWO-PIECE COVER FOR CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONER CABINETS AND THE LIKE, SAID COVER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STRIP OF MATERIAL OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS JOINING PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES, AT LEAST ONE FOLD IN SAID STRIP SPACED FROM AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENDS, EACH OF SAID FOLDS HAVING A PLURALITY OF GROMMETS THEREIN, SAID ELONGATED STRIP OF MATERIAL BEING ADAPTED FOR DISPOSITION AROUND THE VERTICALLY DISPOSED SURFACES OF SAID AIR CONDITIONER CABINET WITH THE GROMMETED FOLDS ADJACENT SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENDS BEING IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, AN ADJUSTABLE ELASTIC CORD MEANS HOOKED TO SAID GROMMETS AND URGING SAID FOLDS ADJACENT SAID FIRST AND SECOND END PORTIONS TOWARD EACH OTHER TO TIGHTEN SAID STRIP OF MATERIAL ABOUT SAID AIR CONDITIONER CABINET, A TOP COVER DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID ELONGATED STRIP AND COVERING AT LEAST THE TOP EDGE THEREOF, SECOND ELASTIC MEANS ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CABINET AND JOINED TO SAID TOP COVER TO PULL PARALLEL SIDE PORTIONS THEREOF TOWARDS EACH OTHER, AND THIRD ELASTIC MEANS PULLING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID TOP COVER TOWARDS EACH OTHER WHEREBY THE SIDE AND END PORTIONS OF SAID TOP COVER WILL OVERLIE THE TOP EDGE OF SAID ELONGATED STRIP FORMING THE SIDE COVER. 